We, the mothers
Call for a ceasefire now!
We, the Mothers of Columbus and our allies call for an immediate permanent ceasefire and the unrestricted flow of urgent humanitarian aid into Gaza. We demand a ceasefire resolution from the Columbus City Council. Calling for a ceasefire is the floor, not the ceiling. We ultimately want local, city, and state DIVESTMENT from Israel and its supporters. We demand that the US stop funding Israel’s oppression and genocide of the Palestinian people. Israel is the largest beneficiary of US foreign aid, currently totaling $3.8 billion per year in primarily military aid, and President Biden is requesting $14 billion in ADDITIONAL military aid for Israel, to fund and arm a genocide.
We, the Mothers of Columbus, are addressing all of our representatives – from local to federal – to say NOT IN OUR NAME.
We, the Mothers, say Stop the Genocide Now.
We, the Mothers of Columbus, mourn with the mothers of Palestine as Israel’s brutal attacks in Gaza continue to cause the death of one precious child EVERY 10 MINUTES. Over 12,300 children have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October.
70% of those killed by Israel's onslaught on Gaza are women and children. Two mothers are killed every hour. Over 19,000 children in Gaza are now orphans.
On average, 10 children per day undergo an amputation due to injuries from Israel's bombings. They do not have access to pain medication, antibiotics, proper wound care, physical therapy, additional necessary care required after amputation, etc.
Children and pregnant and nursing mothers are starving and lacking clean water and essential supplies because Israel is intentionally disrupting the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including shooting and shelling aid trucks*
Birthing people have very limited access to prenatal, labor/delivery, and postnatal care. Since the initial attacks, the miscarriage rate in Gaza has risen 300%. People are giving birth in overcrowded, unhygienic shelters or tents, often with only the help of family due to limited access to trained medical personnel. There is very limited clean water, and refugee bathrooms are often shared by hundreds of people. There is also little to no access to:
Pads and additional supplies necessary for proper postnatal bleeding care;
Functioning hospitals for c-sections. Hospitals are extremely overcrowded, systemically targeted, and besieged by Israeli troops;
Necessary medication. Patients are having C-sections without anesthesia, and are often discharged too quickly with very limited post-C-section care.
On average, 180 people give birth per day in Gaza right now. Over 20,000 babies have been born under these conditions and now they and their parents face starvation, dehydration, and rampant disease from overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions. All of this is in addition to the indiscriminate bombing that is occurring every day throughout Gaza. These conditions affect mothers' ability to produce breast milk, formula is very scarce and expensive, and clean water to prepare formula is severely limited.
Mothers from around the world are joining together in solidarity against genocide, in support of Palestinian parents and their children. The time is now to join this community to be visible and vocal against the ongoing atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people by Israel and its allies. As we have seen throughout history, when good people stay silent, horrible acts continue to unfold.
There are millions of people around the world taking to the streets demanding a Ceasefire NOW and a free Palestine, and we must continue to grow. In the streets, in our homes, in congressional offices, and on street corners, we must do everything in our power, as mothers and allies, to take a stand against this madness.
We must stand up together, and say no more to genocide!
We denounce patriarchal, colonial violence everywhere. We declare that when the matriarchal mothers lead, there will be no more war, violent aggression, or forced starvation; no more oppression or apartheid. We do not consent to our resources being used to advance these tools of violence.
All children are OUR children.
No one is free until we are all free.
Drafted by Noura Dabdoub and Heidi Howes, edited by Jordyn Close, Mary Ellen Madden
https://www.newarab.com/features/miscarriage-rates-gaza-turn-pregnancy-death-sentence
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/08/middleeast/gaza-children-losing-legs-disease-intl-hnk/index.html